Back by popular demand, Stafford panto favourites Mark Rhodes and David Phipps-Davis will be returning for this year's production of Aladdin at the Gatehouse Theatre.

The pair have starred in three sell-out Stafford pantomimes together, including last year's record-breaking production of Sleeping Beauty.

Some may know Mark as one half of CBBC duo Sam & Mark.

The double BAFTA award-winning presenter and actor has been appearing on our screens for over 20 years, featuring on programmes such as Crackerjack, Sam & Mark's Big Friday Wind Up, TMI and Junior Bake Off.

As is tradition, Mark will be taking on the main comic role with David playing the panto dame.

With an extensive stage career spanning from opera to musical theatre and pantomime, David is a firm favourite of Gatehouse theatre-goers.

His credits include performances at Sadler's Wells and the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield.

Mark said: 'I love performing at the Gatehouse because the Stafford audiences are always so warm, funny and completely up for joining in so it gets sillier every year.

advertisement

'Every year the atmosphere gets bigger and better.

'Working with David again is brilliant because we know exactly how to bounce off each other on stage.

'He's a panto genius and we've got loads of surprises in store this year!'

David added 'I am delighted to be back with Mark again this year – our relationship works so well because we find each other funny!

'Also, we do very different things – Mark is the silly one who is primarily there for the kids (and the mums, lol) and I'm the naughty one who is primarily there for the grown-ups (especially the dads, lol).

'I'm also thrilled to be writing the script in Stafford this year!

'I have a relationship with the venue and the audience at the Gatehouse so I think I know what they want and what they like – hopefully I'm not wrong!

'I always like to know who I am writing for and that totally changes how I write the script.

advertisement

'One thing I am planning for this year is for Mark to have a big song, after all he has had a UK number one!'

The show is being produced by the award-winning Imagine Theatre and will run from 4 December to 3 January.

Gary Stevens, Gatehouse General Manager, says: 'We're thrilled to welcome Mark and David back to the Gatehouse.

'Our audiences love seeing them in panto together and we know this year's Aladdin is going to be our biggest and funniest pantomime yet.'

Buy tickets here or call 01785 619080.

Gatehouse Theatre sponsors Stafford Nub News.

Without community-minded sponsors like them, we would not be able to provide clickbait-free news to the people of Stafford.